5 held in Worcester strip club attack

Saturday

Jan 18, 2014 at 6:00 AM

By Gary V. Murray TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

WORCESTER — Five men were arraigned Friday in Worcester Superior Court on charges stemming from what a prosecutor said was a "joint venture attack" at a Southbridge Street strip club that left two club employees and a third man seriously injured.

Assistant District Attorney Terrence M. Reidy told Judge Janet Kenton-Walker that the suspects, who all entered not-guilty pleas, were either principals or joint venturers in Oct. 14 assaults on three men at Hurricane Betty's, 350 Southbridge St. Mr. Reidy said the victims were a disc jockey, who was hospitalized after being knocked unconscious in the street; a bouncer; and the boyfriend of another club employee.

The defendants were indicted Thursday by a Worcester County grand jury.

Christopher Schievink, 29, of Charlestown, is charged with four counts of aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, three counts of assault and battery causing serous bodily injury, and conspiracy.

Jonathan Libby, 27, also of Charlestown, is charged with four counts of aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon as a habitual criminal, three counts of assault and battery causing serious bodily injury as a habitual criminal, and conspiracy.

Juanito Melendez, 33, of 54 Green Ave., Southbridge, is charged with two counts of aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and single counts of assault and battery causing serious bodily injury and conspiracy.

Bail for Mr. Lynch, who is being held without bail on an unrelated violation of probation, was set at $50,000 at Mr. Reidy's request. His case was continued to Feb. 28.

The other four men were all ordered held without bail pending a Jan. 24 dangerousness hearing.

According to Mr. Reidy and police reports on file in court, a fight broke out in the club about 1:45 a.m. after a group of patrons that included Mr. Libby became unruly, were asked to leave and refused.

Mr. Libby allegedly threw a beer bottle that missed a bouncer and then began punching him. A videotape obtained from the club by police showed the disc jockey being attacked as he tried to assist security personnel in removing the group from the club, according to police reports.

The disc jockey was dragged out of the club and onto the sidewalk, where he was punched, struck with a beer bottle and repeatedly kicked in the head and body, rendering him unconscious, according to the reports.

Mr. Reidy said the 58-year-old man was "savagely" beaten and suffered head trauma, a punctured lung and broken ribs.

Another victim, who came to the disc jockey's aid after he was knocked unconscious, was punched and kicked and struck on the head several times with a flashlight, according to police and prosecutors. That man "received multiple staples in his head from the assault," according to a police report.

The bouncer who was struck inside the club suffered a broken orbital bone around his left eye and possible permanent eye damage, the report states.

Mr. Libby was arrested that same morning after he ran from the scene and was found hiding under a staircase behind the strip club, according to investigators. The other four men were charged after police said they identified them from the videotape.